Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

Footy · Jul 30, 2002, 04:43 PM

Hello,

My 4 port USB hub is full and I have a new scanner to add to the chain. Can I run my scanner through my keyboard? I'm thinking not but who knows and I'm to scared to try it.

Is it just as safe to disconnect a USB cable from the back of a peripheral? My printer's cable it much easier to get to from the back of it than the hub, so I thought I could just unplug from the back of the printer and plug in the scanner when I needed it.

Patrick · Jul 30, 2002, 06:01 PM

The port in the keyboard should work just fine with any externally powered device. The only peripherals I've seen that can't use the keyboard are disk drives or card readers that are powered by the USB connection.

Unplugging one of your others to make some space also works. And USB is hot-swappable, unlike older serial ports, so you don't have to worry about stuff crashing on you (unless you'res using Windows 98).

Footy · Jul 30, 2002, 06:27 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Patrick:
The port in the keyboard should work just fine with any externally powered device. The only peripherals I've seen that can't use the keyboard are disk drives or card readers that are powered by the USB connection.

Unplugging one of your others to make some space also works. And USB is hot-swappable, unlike older serial ports, so you don't have to worry about stuff crashing on you (unless you'res using Windows 98).<hr /></blockquote>Thanks Patrick,

Yeah, I should have mentioned that the scanner is powered by the USB port. That's why I though that maybe it wont work in the keyboard. Could always try I suppose.

I also know that USB is hot swappable and it really shouldn't matter that I would pull the cord from the back of the printer to use on the scanner when need be. Just didn't know if somehow this might be bad on peripherals pulling from that end.

I do thank you for your responce Buddy.

CIA · Jul 30, 2002, 08:08 PM

Just run one of your other devices that does not require USB power off the keyboard, and plug the scanner into the hub (guessing it's a powered hub)

G4ME · Jul 30, 2002, 09:21 PM

you could always pick up another hub? if you got the extra cash.

Footy · Jul 30, 2002, 11:18 PM

Thanks for the advise guys!

I went out to Comp USA and picked up a 7 port hub. Hmmm, same cost as the 4 port.... It figures. Hell, I'd have bought the 7 port the first time but I picked it up over in the Apple section which only had the 4 ports on display. I found the 7 port tonight way over on the other side of the store.

So I'll sell the 4 port to someone at work. They are both powered Belkins. Yeah, I could have used the keyboard USB for my joystick to open one on the 4 port but I felt like spending $50 bucks.

Don't tell my wife!!

[ 07-31-2002, 12:18 AM: Message edited by: Footy ]